The Necklace

Pattern available at the new website here.

Spiralis Scarf

Pattern available at the new website here.

Ottellea

Happy Mother's (and Grandmother's) Day!!

 

This is Ottellea. It is named after my grandmother's middle name and the first name of my great grand-aunt (although a slight spelling variation).

This is Grandma Irene Ottilie in 1946. She was 22 years old in this photo.

The pattern is available for purchase at the following sites:

Ravelry pattern page
Love Crochet pattern page

Here are some details about the pattern:

Yarn: Fingering weight
MC (block sections) - approximately 600 yds
CCA (bobble sections) - approximately 460 yds
CCB (three mesh sections) - approximately 220 yds
CCC (two mesh sections) - approximately 120 yds
[Note: If you want to use three colors instead of four, combine the estimated yardage of CCB and CCC.]

Approximate Dimensions: 80" along the longest side by 30" at the widest point. Your finished dimensions may differ depending on your gauge and how the finished scarf is blocked.

Even though the pattern uses simple stitches, such as sc, sc2tog, dc, and dc2tog to mention a few, I would say this pattern would be for an experienced beginner or an intermediate crocheter. The reason behind this is you will need some familiarity with finding stitches at the end of each row. That is probably the trickiest part of the pattern.

 

This one is the Floral Ottellea. The yarns I used are as follows:

[Dyer, Base, Coloway]

MC - Shalimar, Aerie, Chamois

CCA - Knerd String, Fingering Weight, Cherry Garcia

CCB - Avalon Springs Farm, Pendragon, Hobbit House

CCC - Shalimar, Breathless, Enchanted

I call this one the Autumnal Ottellea. This was actually the first color scheme I used, but I didn't like how the pattern was turning out at the time, so I frogged it. I rewrote the pattern, made the Floral one, and then remade the Autumnal. Here are the yarns:

MC - Tempting Ewe; Ewe So Happy Sock; Lock, Shock, & Barrel

CCA - Hazel Knits, Entice MCN, Hoppy Blonde

CCB - Hazel Knits, Entice MCN, Concord

CCC - Hazel Knits, Entice MCN, Sedge

Some of the yarns I used are from Maryland local dyers: Avalon Springs Farm (find their yarn at local events and on their website), Tempting Ewe (exclusive to Clover Hill Yarn Shop in Catonsville, but also online), and Shalimar (see her website for stockists).

Happy crocheting!!

Super Bulky Basket Weave Hat

Pattern available at the new website here.

Grandma's One Egg Cake Recipe

Hi everyone!

I want to share another one of my grandmother's dessert recipes. Like her butter cookie recipe, we don't know where she got this one from. I'm not going to lie. This is not the most spectacular vanilla cake I've ever had. But if you have limited ingredients, it works well.

One Egg Cake

½ stick of butter

½ cup sugar

1 cup flour (sifted 3 times)

2/3 cup milk

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

¼ tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

Sprinkles (optional)

1. Grease or butter a 8" x 8" cake pan. Add parchment paper to the bottom of the pan if desired. (This will help with removal of the cake.)
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Sift flour 3 times with baking powder and salt.
4. Add egg to butter/sugar mix. Beat well.
5. Add flour alternating with milk, beat well after each addition.
6. Add vanilla.
7. [Optional] Fold in sprinkles for a confetti cake.
8. Transfer to the pan and bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester (e.g. knife, toothpick, piece of uncooked spaghetti, etc) comes out clean.
9. Once cooled, remove from the pan and add icing if desired.

For the cake I made in the picture, I used the Quick and Almost-Professional Buttercream Icing recipe from All Recipes. It was quick and easy, which was what I needed when I made the cake.

Cheers!

Pittsburgh Series 3: Oakmont Hat

Pattern available at the new website here.

Pittsburgh Series 2: Tonidale Hat

Pattern available at the new website here.

Grandma's Butter Cookie Recipe

Recipe available at the new website here.

Pittsburgh Series 1: Bridgeville Hat

Pattern available at the new website here.